Martin Ferrero playing Donald Gennaro in better times before his toilet death in "Jurassic Park." / Universal

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

Actor Martin Ferrero has had a long career as a character actor in Hollywood, appearing on hit shows such as Miami Vice and movies such as 1995's Get Shorty.

But even Ferrero admits he will probably always be known as the lawyer eaten in the worst way by a tyrannosaurus rex in 1993's Jurassic Park.

"When people recognize me on the street, they pause and then say, 'You were the guy who got eaten on the toilet in Jurassic Park,' " Ferrero says. "So yes, I'm the guy who died on the toilet."

This legend continued with Friday's release of Steven Spielberg's dinosaur classic Jurassic Park in 3-D.

"The eating scene is even better in 3-D," Ferrero said as he discussed playing lawyer Donald Gennaro in the box-office hit.

The fascination is constant. During a question-and-answer session after a Jurassic screening this week, Ferrero said his lawyer was actually a hero in Michael Crichton's best-selling book. But, at the time, Spielberg was upfront that he had other plans in the film version.

"Steven called me in to me and told me, 'I'm thinking about casting you as Donald Gennaro, and I do want to let you know how you're going to die,' " Ferrero recalled.

"I said, 'Wait a minute; Donald Gennaro survives. In fact he saves the children in the book,' " Ferrero said. "And (Spielberg) said, 'No, he's going to die on a toilet. A tyrannosaurus rex is going to eat you.' "

Ferrero quickly fell into line.

"Of course if it was going to be a heroic Donald Gennaro they would have gotten a big star," he said. "I told him it was a terrific plan."

The image of T-Rex destroying the theme park toilet to find a cowering Gennaro on the throne has lived in fans' minds ever since. Ferrero was mobbed by fans at the special screening.

"I'll take it," Ferrero said after signing another autograph. "It's not that bad."